The need to protect corporate networks from non-business IoT devices – Manila Bulletin

Cyber adversaries know that one small IoT sensor can present entry right into a corporate community to launch ransomware assaults and extra. According to a survey of IT decision-makers by Palo Alto Networks (NYSE: PANW), 80% of respondents from Asia Pacific (together with Japan), who’ve IoT devices related to their group’s community, reported a rise in non-business IoT devices on corporate networks within the final yr. Smart mild bulbs, coronary heart fee screens, related gymnasium gear, espresso machines, recreation consoles and even pet feeders are among the many record of the strangest devices recognized on such networks within the examine.

Survey responses warn of wanted safety modifications to protect corporate networks from non-business IoT devices. 98% of the identical group above indicated their group’s method to IoT safety wants enchancment, and three out of ten (30%) stated it wants an entire overhaul with the best safety functionality wants round menace safety (57%), threat evaluation (57%), IoT gadget context for safety groups (60%), and gadget visibility and stock (56%).

“IoT adoption has change into a vital enterprise enabler. It presents new safety challenges that may solely be met if workers and employers share duty for safeguarding networks,” stated Vicky Ray, principal researcher, Unit 42 at Palo Alto Networks. “Remote employees need to pay attention to private house devices that will join to corporate networks by way of their house router. Enterprises need to higher monitor threats and entry to networks whereas training correct community segmentation to safeguard distant workers and the group’s most precious property.”

Worth noting, of all of the Asia Pacific (together with Japan) IT decision-makers polled by Palo Alto Networks which have IoT devices related to their community, over half (53%) indicated that IoT devices are segmented on a separate community from the one they use for main enterprise devices and enterprise functions (e.g. HR system, e mail server, finance system, and so forth.), and one other 28% of respondents stated that IoT devices are micro-segmented inside safety zones — an business finest follow the place organizations create tightly managed safety zones on their networks to isolate IoT devices and hold them separate from IT devices to keep away from hackers from transferring laterally on a community.